Gas distribution unit for a cooking appliance

ABSTRACT

A gas distributor assembly for a cooking appliance. In one implementation the assembly includes at least one gas burner, a distributor conduit fitted with at least one regulation tap to regulate the passage of a gas flow to the corresponding burner, and a safety valve to open or close the passage of the gas flow to the burners. The distributor conduit is connected to the safety valve, the safety valve having a valve body that includes an inlet conduit for receiving the gas flow, an outlet conduit, and an intermediate conduit that connects the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit, an axial axis of the inlet conduit and an axial axis of the outlet conduit being arranged substantially parallel to each other and not coaxial. An electrovalve housed in the valve body of the safety valve opens or closes the passage of the gas flow to the outlet conduit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims the benefit and priority to International Application No. PCT/EP2008/008348, filed Oct. 2, 2008, which relates to and claims the benefit and priority to Spanish Patent Application No. U200801169, filed Jun. 2, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gas distributor unit for a cooking appliance, which comprises a distributor conduit in which a safety valve is intercalated.

BACKGROUND

There are known gas distributor units for cooking appliances, which comprise a distributor conduit of a gas flow and several regulation taps assembled along the distributor conduit to regulate the gas flow to the burners of the cooking appliance, acting on each regulation tap through a respective control arranged on the control panel of the cooking appliance. The distributor conduit is arranged parallel to the control panel.

There are also known distributor units that comprise a safety valve intercalated in the distributor conduit in order to open or close the passage of the gas flow to the burners of the cooking appliance.

European Patent Application published as EP0727616A1 discloses a gas distributor unit for a cooking appliance which comprises several gas burners, a distributor conduit fitted with several regulation taps to regulate the passage of a gas flow to the corresponding burner and several controls to act on the corresponding regulation tap, the controls being arranged on a control panel of the cooking appliance. In addition, the distributor unit comprises a safety valve to open or close the passage of the gas flow through the distributor conduit to the burners.

SUMMARY

According to one implementation a gas distributor unit according to the invention comprises at least one gas burner, a distributor conduit fitted with at least one regulation tap to regulate the passage of a gas flow Q to the corresponding burner, and a safety valve to open or close the passage of the gas flow through the distributor conduit to the burners. The distributor conduit is connected to the safety valve, the safety valve comprising a valve body that includes a inlet conduit for the gas flow, an outlet conduit, and an intermediate conduit that connects the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit, an axial axis of the inlet conduit and an axial axis of the outlet conduit being arranged substantially parallel to each other and not aligned. The safety valve also comprises an electrovalve housed in the valve body that opens or closes the passage of the gas flow to the outlet conduit.

A distributor unit according to the invention offers safety for the user by providing a similar gas flow in relation to the distributor units of the prior art while using a more compact solution. Furthermore, the safety valve of the distributor unit comprises construction characteristics that enable the load loss of the gas flow to be reduced.

These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of an embodiment of a distributor unit according to the invention without the controls.

FIG. 2 shows a view in perspective of a cooking appliance that comprises the distributor unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a view in perspective of an embodiment of a safety valve of the distributor unit of FIG. 1, without an electrovalve.

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the safety valve of FIG. 3, with an electrovalve in an open position.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the safety valve of FIG. 3, with an electrovalve in a closed position.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the safety valve of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fixing of the safety valve to a distributor conduit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a view in perspective of an embodiment of a distributor unit without the controls.

FIG. 9 shows a view in perspective of a safety valve of the distributor unit of FIG. 8, without the electrovalve.

FIG. 10 shows a view according to a first longitudinal cross-section of the safety valve of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a view according to a second longitudinal cross-section of the safety valve of FIG. 9, with the electrovalve in an open position.

FIG. 12 shows a view according to a first longitudinal cross-section of the safety valve of FIG. 9, with the electrovalve in a closed position.

FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fixing of the safety valve to the distributor conduit of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, gas distributor units according to some implementations comprise several gas burners 1, a distributor conduit 2 fitted with several regulation taps 3 to regulate the passage of a gas flow Q to the corresponding burner 1 and several controls 4 to act on the corresponding regulation tap 3, the controls 4 being arranged on a control panel 5 of the cooking appliance. In addition, the distributor unit comprises a safety valve 6 that opens or closes the passage of the gas flow Q through the distributor conduit 2 to the respective burners 1.

The distributor conduit 2 comprises a first section 7 that is connected to a gas intake 30 through a free end 7 c and a second section 8 in which the regulation units 3 are fitted. In one implementation the second section 8 is arranged substantially parallel to the control panel 5, and the first section 7 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second section 8.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 and 9 to 13, in some implementations the safety valve 6 comprises a valve body 9 that includes an inlet conduit 11 through which a gas flow Q enters, an outlet conduit 12, and an intermediate conduit 13, substantially orthogonal to the inlet conduit 11 and to the outlet conduit 12, that connects the inlet conduit 11 to the outlet conduit 12. The inlet conduit 11 and the outlet conduit 12 are arranged in the valve body 9 so that an axial axis 11 b of the inlet conduit 11 and an axial axis 12 b of the outlet conduit 12 are substantially parallel to each other and not coaxial.

In other embodiments, the intermediate conduit 13 may be arranged to form an angle in relation to the inlet conduit 11 and the outlet conduit 12.

In addition, the safety valve 6 includes an electrovalve 10 housed in the valve body 9 to open and close the passage of the gas flow Q through the intermediate conduit 13. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, the electrovalve 10 may be controlled by means of a microcontroller 22 that receives the input signals of thermocouples 23 arranged on each burner 1, and microswitches 25 arranged on each regulation tap 3. As a result, the microcontroller 22 always knows when each regulation tap 3 is open or closed, so that when the microcontroller 22 stops receiving the input signal of a thermocouple 23 corresponding to a burner 1 whose regulation tap 3 is open, the microcontroller 22 sends an output signal to the electrovalve 10, so that the electrovalve closes the passage of the gas flow Q to the burners 1.

In one implementation, the microcontroller 22 also receives an input signal from an ON-OFF switch 24 upon which a user acts and which is arranged on the control panel 5 so that when the user acts on the switch 24 the microcontroller 22 sends an output signal to the electrovalve 10 with the result that the electrovalve 10 closes the passage of the gas flow Q to the burners 1.

In addition, the construction characteristics of the valve body 9 ensure that the trajectory of the gas flow Q through the valve body 9 is simple, preventing a trajectory with changes of direction, or minimizing such changes, and reducing the load losses of the gas flow Q in relation to the losses that occur in the distributor units in the prior art. For this purpose, the intermediate conduit 13 of the valve body 9, shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 10, comprises an upper section 14 of a first interior diameter D1 in which is housed the electrovalve 10, an intermediate section 15 of a second interior diameter D2 that receives the gas flow Q of the inlet conduit 11, and a lower section 16 of a third interior diameter D3 that connects the upper section 14 to the outlet conduit 12 and includes a valve seating 17 for the electrovalve 10, the upper section 14, the intermediate section 15 and the lower section 16 being coaxial. Additionally, the first interior diameter D1 is smaller than the second interior diameter D2, thus preventing the flow Q from being cut off in its passage through the intermediate section 15, and the second interior diameter D2 is greater than the third interior diameter D3, it being around twice as large in a preferred embodiment, the aim being to minimise load losses.

In one implementation, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the axial axis 11 b of the inlet conduit 11 and the axial axis 12 b of the outlet conduit 12 are arranged coplanar. In addition, the safety valve 6 is place between the first section 7 and the second section 8 of the distributor conduit 2 so that one end 7 a of the first section 7 is connected to the inlet conduit 11 and one end 8 a of the second section 8 is connected to the outlet conduit 8. The respective ends 7 a and 8 a of the first section 7 and second section 8 are curved, the angle of curvature being approximately 45°, and they are arranged non-coaxial and substantially parallel to each other. As a result, the load losses of the gas flow Q are reduced in relation to the distributor units of the prior art, in which there is a single angle of curvature of approximately 90° between the first section 7 and the second section 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, in one implementation the fastening between the inlet conduit 11 and the end 7 a of the first section 7 and between the outlet conduit 12 and the end 8 a of the second section 8, respectively, is of the threaded type. In one implementation the fastening between the inlet conduit 11 and the end 7 a of the first section 7 is realised by a nut 18 that is threaded on an interior surface 11 a of the inlet conduit 11, a mechanical closure 20 being created between the end 7 a of the first section and the inlet conduit 11. In one implementation the fastening between the end 8 a of the second section 8 and the outlet conduit 12 is realised by a nut 19 that is threaded on an exterior surface 12 a of the outlet conduit 12, a seal 21 being arranged between the end 8 a of the second section 8 and the outlet conduit 12 in order to create the sealed closure.

In another implementation, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 13, the axial axis 11 b of the inlet conduit 11 and the axial axis 12 b of the outlet conduit 12 are arranged orthogonally and not coplanar. In addition, the first section 7 and the second section 8 of the distributor conduit 2 are continuous and coaxial, the inlet conduit 11 of the safety valve 6 being connected to the gas intake 30 and the outlet conduit 12 to the free end 7 c of the first section 7.

As shown in FIG. 13, in one implementation the fastening between the outlet conduit 12 and the free end 7 c of the first section 7, and between the inlet conduit 11 and the gas intake 30, respectively, is of the threaded type and is carried out by nuts 19 that are threaded respectively on the exterior surface 12 a of the outlet conduit 12 and on an exterior surface 11 c of the inlet conduit 11, the seal 21 being arranged between the free end 7 c of the first section 7 and the outlet conduit 12, and between the inlet conduit 11 and the gas intake 30 in order to create the sealed closure.

In other embodiments not shown in the figures, the safety valve 6 may be placed among the first section 7 or among the second section 8 of the distributor conduit 2 so that, as in the first embodiment, the axial axis 11 b of the inlet conduit 11 of the valve body 9 and the axial axis 12 b of the outlet conduit 12 of the valve body 9 are arranged coplanar. 

1. A gas distributor unit assembly for a cooking appliance comprising: a first distributor conduit having first and second ends, the second end adapted to be coupled to a gas source; a second distributor conduit having a first end and adapted to direct gas to a burner of the cooking appliance; a safety valve situated in the gas flow path between the first and second distributor conduits, the safety valve having an inlet channel with a first axial axis that is coupled to the first end of the distributor conduit, an outlet channel with a second axial axis that is coupled to the first end of the second distributor conduit, an intermediate channel with a third axial axis disposed between and connecting the inlet and outlet channels, and a valve member coupled to an electrical actuator and moveable between a first position and a second position, when in the first position the valve member being situated on a valve seat in the third channel to obstruct gas flow between the first and second channels, when in the second position the valve member being situated away from the valve seat to permit gas flow between the first and second channels, the first axial axis and the second axial axis being substantially parallel to one another and non-coaxial.
 2. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the third axial axis is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axial axes.
 3. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the third axial axis is not parallel to the first and second axes.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate channel comprises an upper section of a first interior diameter in which is housed the electrical actuator, an intermediate section of a second interior diameter that receives the gas flow of the inlet conduit, and a lower section of a third interior diameter that is connected to the outlet conduit and includes the valve seat, the first interior diameter being smaller than the second interior diameter and the second interior diameter being greater than the third interior diameter.
 11. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second distributor conduits are arranged substantially orthogonal to one another.
 12. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second distributor conduit is coupled to a gas tap that controls the flow of gas to the burner, the gas tap having a control situated on a control panel of the cooking appliance, the second distributor conduit being arranged substantially parallel to the control panel and being arranged substantially orthogonal to the first distributor conduit,
 13. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits are curved.
 14. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 13, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits each section have an angle of curvature of approximately 45 degrees.
 15. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits are curved.
 16. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits each section have an angle of curvature of approximately 45 degrees.
 17. A gas distributor assembly for a cooking appliance comprising: a first distributor conduit having a first and second ends, the second end adapted to be coupled to a gas source, a second distributor conduit having a first end and adapted to direct gas to a burner of the cooking appliance; and a safety valve situated in the gas flow path between the first and second distributor conduits, the safety valve having an inlet channel with a first axial axis that is coupled to the first end of the distributor conduit, an outlet channel with a second axial axis that is coupled to the first end of the second distributor conduit, an intermediate channel with a third axial axis disposed between and connecting the inlet and outlet channels, and a valve member coupled to an electrical actuator and moveable between a first position and a second position, when in the first position the valve member being situated on a valve seat in the third channel to obstruct gas flow between the first and second channels, when in the second position the valve member being situated away from the valve seat to permit gas flow between the first and second channels, the first axial axis and the second axial axis being substantially orthogonal and substantially coaxial to one another.
 18. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 17, wherein the third axial axis is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axial axes.
 19. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 17, wherein the third axial axis is not parallel to the first and second axial axes.
 20. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 19, wherein the intermediate channel comprises an upper section of a first interior diameter in which is housed the electrical actuator, an intermediate section of a second interior diameter that receives the gas flow of the inlet conduit, and a lower section of a third interior diameter that is connected to the outlet conduit and includes the valve seat, the first interior diameter being smaller than the second interior diameter and the second interior diameter being greater than the third interior diameter.
 21. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 17, wherein the first and second distributor conduits are arranged substantially orthogonal and substantially coaxial to one another.
 22. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 17, wherein the second distributor conduit is coupled to a gas tap that controls the flow of gas to the burner, the gas tap having a control situated on a control panel of the cooking appliance, the second distributor conduit being arranged substantially parallel to the control panel and being arranged substantially orthogonal to the first distributor conduit,
 23. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 21, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits are curved.
 24. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 23, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits each section have an angle of curvature of approximately 45 degrees.
 25. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 22, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits are curved.
 26. A gas distributor assembly according to claim 25, wherein the first end of each of the first and second distributor conduits each section have an angle of curvature of approximately 45 degrees. 